The Student-Life of Germany

by William Howitt

The following persons are necessary to a duel, besides the two duellists; two seconds, two witnesses, an umpire, and the surgeon. The room in which the duels are fought at Heidelberg, is the well-known room of an inn on the side of the Neckar opposite to the city, finely located in the valley of the Hirsh-gasse. Thither see we the Sons of the Muses often, betaking themselves in troops, to witness a contest between two of their most famous swordsmen. When a duel is determined, the room, or ball, as it is termed, must be secured for the appointed day. The room is regularly hired for these purposes by the Convention of the Chores, and its rent is defrayed out of the Chore-chest, as before observed, where also it was remarked that the use of it and the weapons is hired for particular occasions by the Camels. The Chore to which the challenger belongs, or with which he has associated himself, secures the hall by marking the Chore sign on the floor with chalk. By this it acquires the right to occupy it for two duels, and must then, if wanted, surrender it to another Chore.

"Solemnly," says Hauff, in the Memoirs of Satan, speaking of a duel, "was each individual conducted into a chamber, his coat taken off, and the Paukwicks, that is, the armour in which the duel is to be fought, put on." Each duellist is, in fact, conducted into a chamber by his witness and second, and clothed in the duel costume. Some trifling changes take place in this from time to time, but it consists, substantially, of the following pieces. A lesser and a greater cap, according to circumstances hereafter noticed, and which can be made tighter or looser, but which is generally worn loose, so that the blows may take less effect. A tall cravat, which protects the throat, and commonly reaches up to the nose, but this is put on in the hall immediately before the fight commences. The binding of the arm is particularly important, that it may afford it the greatest possible protection, at the same time that it does not impede the action of the wrist and elbow. For this purpose is used a fine leather glove, bound round and secured to the wrist with a silken riband. This binding of the glove must be very carefully performed, so as to defend the sinews and arteries which abound here, as much as possible from injury. The hand is protected by the basket-hilt of the sword. The duellist takes the end of the riband which secures the glove in his hand until a similar one has been passed round the elbow. The stulp, a thick and well-quilted cover for the arm, made of silk, is then drawn on, fitted down upon the glove, and being fastened there by the riband which also secures the glove, and at the upper part of the arm by other ribands. Another bandage, called the axillary knot, has frequently also been brought under the shoulder to defend the axillary arteries from injury. The last piece of the duel-costume consists of the paukhosen, or duel-trousers. It is made of leather of uncommon thickness, and well stuffed, and comes up so as to form a sort of cuirass, though without iron, such as the soldiers of Columbus used to wear. High as it reaches, it yet leaves a good part of the breast uncovered. It is laced together behind by means of leathern thongs. A thicker glove is fastened to the paukhosen behind for the left hand, or should the duellist happen to be left-handed, for the right, to keep it out of the way during the fight. Before the combatant was thus attired, he had not only his coat, waistcoat, neckcloth and braces taken off, but his shirt sleeve also slit up from the wrist to the shoulder, so as to give full freedom to the action of the arm, on which account a duel-shirt is frequently kept for the purpose, and put on before going to the place of contest.

The whole of this duel-suit is calculated for a man of ordinary size, and therefore little fellows often cut a very laughable figure in it. They are more protected in it than larger persons, but at the same time are more encumbered. The second clothes himself in similar duel-trousers, and puts on a cap with a large front, or a hat, and the large leather stulp-glove covers his arm. The witness requires only a leathern glove on one hand, to enable him, if the sword of the combatant gets bent during the fight, to straighten it out again for him.

When the two duellists are equipped, they are conducted into the hall, and whilst the remaining particulars are adjusted, they walk up and down, each supporting the arm which has to wield the sword on his witness. The seconds now measure out the distance, and determine it by two lines of chalk. Within these two lines the combatants must fight, and behind which they are not allowed to retreat. If either of them does this three times, he is dismissed from the contest with shame and insult. The second of the person challenged has the right to choose the umpire, the second of the challenger commands. Now first has the challenger to declare in what manner he will fight; but till we have said a few explanatory words, must the antagonists restrain their impetuosity.

The different sorts of the duel progress, from the mildest to the most severe, in this order:

1. Twelve rounds with the great cap.
(a) With a conclusive wound.
(b) Without a conclusive wound.

2. Twelve rounds with the small cap.
(a) With, etc. (b) Without, etc.

3. Twenty-four rounds with the great cap.
(a) With, etc. (b) Without, etc.

4. Twenty-four rounds with the small cap.
(a) With, etc. (b) Without, etc.

5. One round with (a) (b)